Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will visit Seoul Dec. 19-21 to bolster bilateral coordination toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In this photo from October 2018, Biegun is shown meeting with National Security Director Chung Eui-yong at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Cheong Wa Dae)
By Yoon Sojung
With U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun starting his three-day visit to Seoul on Dec. 19, the U.S. State Department has said communication between Pyeongyang and Washington is continuing.
On Biegun’s visit, the department’s deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino on Dec. 18 said, “This is very much focused on strengthening U.S.-ROK (Republic of Korea) coordination.”
“He’ll be meeting with the Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Representative Lee Do-hoon and other Republic of Korea officials.”
On the meeting of the bilateral working group to be co-chaired by Biegun and Lee, Palladino said, “This is all about our shared objective for the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea.”
“That’s going to be focused on our joint efforts to achieve this goal and to flesh that out further. And that will include inter-Korean cooperation projects as well.”
Palladino also reiterated Washington’s commitment toward denuclearization, saying, “And the United States remains confident that the commitments made by President Trump and (North Korean) Chairman Kim (Jong Un) at their summit in Singapore will be fulfilled.”
On the North’s recent criticism of international sanctions on it, the spokesman said “the world remains united in enforcing and implementing United Nations sanctions until the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea.”
“President Trump has made it clear that sanctions relief will follow denuclearization.”
arete@korea.kr
